Ballina to Byron Bay road trip: Distance, drive time & attractions
The drive from Ballina to Byron Bay takes around half an hour, whether you go along the coast via Lennox Head, or up the Pacific Highway via Macadamia Castle.
This independent, Australia travel expert-researched guide is aimed at travellers planning a road trip itinerary from Ballina to Byron Bay in New South Wales. To just book Byron Bay accommodation, go here, and to look for the best tours and activities, go here.
If you can do just one thing in Byron Bay, make it kayaking with dolphins. The scenery’s beautiful, and you can get much closer to the dolphins than you would on a boat tour. BOOK HERE.
To learn more about the Ballina to Byron Bay drive, including the distance, driving time and the best stops along the route, read on…
Planning a Ballina to Byron Bay road trip
Byron Bay might be the tourist hub of the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, but Ballina is the largest town in the region. Ballina is also where you’ll find the closest airport to Byron Bay. Anyone flying up from Sydney will take on the Ballina to Byron Bay drive.
5 Ballina experiences to book in advance
- Go on a dolphin watching cruise – sightings are very reliable.
- Take a guided coastal walk – learning about the natural environment on the way.
- Clink glasses as the sun goes down – on a Richmond River sunset cruise.
- Take a cruise to the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve – with a marine biologist pointing out the dolphins, turtles and dramatic cliffs.
- Learn to surf – on a private surfing lesson.
Where to stay in Ballina
The top Ballina accommodation options are:
- For charm and personality: Ballina Manor Boutique Hotel.
- For a holiday park with family-sized cabins and lots kid-friendly facilities: Discovery Parks Ballina.
- For a relatively cheap, good quality motel: Almare Tourist Motel.
- For riverside location: Ramada Hotel and Suites.
And if you’ve got to drive from Ballina to Byron Bay anyway, you may as well enjoy a few attractions on the way.
Ballina to Byron Bay distance and driving time
The shortest Ballina to Byron Bay road trip route goes along the coast via Lennox Head. This drive is 31km long, and should take around 30 minutes. On the way, you’ll only need short diversions to visit the likes of Whites Beach, Kings Beach, the Broken Head Reserve and Arakwal National Park.
The inland route along the Pacific Motorway is slightly quicker, however. The Ballina to Byron Bay drive via the Pacific Highway is 34km long but takes about 28 minutes.
Ballina to Byron Bay drive attractions
The Pacific Highway route passes the villages of Tintenbar, Newrybar and Bangalow. You come off the highway at Ewingsdale, home to The Farm Byron Bay.
The main attractions along the way are just north of Tintenbar. Killen Falls is one of the most beautiful waterfalls in the Northern Rivers region, while Macadamia Castle offers kid-friendly wildlife encounters.
Distance from Ballina Airport to Byron Bay
Ballina Byron Gateway Airport is just to the north of Ballina, and the Pacific Motorway route is slightly quicker from there too.
The drive from Ballina Airport to Byron Bay is 35km long, and should take around 29 minutes.
8 amazing Byron Bay experiences worth booking today
- Experience the region’s glorious natural landscapes from above – on a hot air balloon ride.
- Go kayaking with dolphins – and get much closer to them than on a boat tour 🐬.
- Learn to surf – on a half day surf lesson 🏄♀️.
- Discover the local secrets – let a guide show you the hidden beaches and waterfalls 🏖️.
- Go on a three habitat wildlife safari – spotting koalas, kangaroos and flying foxes 🐨🦘.
- See glowworms light up the World Heritage-listed rainforest.
- Explore the Byron Bay hinterland – including the rainforest walk to Minyon Falls.
- Taste craft beers and spirits – on a tour of Byron’s breweries and distilleries 🍻.
- Also try… Skydives | Sea-kayaking | Whale-watching.
Things to do in Byron Bay include brewery tours, art and wine classes and turtle snorkelling tours. Byron Bay accommodation options include the Bayview Beachfront Apartments, the beachfront Cavvanbah and the Ingenia Byron Bay holiday park.
5 Ballina experiences to book in advance
- Go on a dolphin watching cruise – sightings are very reliable.
- Take a guided coastal walk – learning about the natural environment on the way.
- Clink glasses as the sun goes down – on a Richmond River sunset cruise.
- Take a cruise to the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve – with a marine biologist pointing out the dolphins, turtles and dramatic cliffs.
- Learn to surf – on a private surfing lesson.
More New South Wales travel
How long is the drive from Moree to Dubbo?
Where is the Anzac Bridge?
Swim with seals at Montague Island near Narooma.
See underground art at Chambers of the Black Hand in Lightning Ridge.